Car-coupling



(No Model.)

H'. BQROGERS. GAR GOUPLING Patented Jan. 5, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. ROGERS, OF SANGER, CALIFORNIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 574,825, dated January5, 1897. Application filed May 22, 1896. Serial No. 592.565. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom, it 7221011/ concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sanger, in the county of Fresno and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic carcouplings.

My object is to provide an improved and highly superior car-couplingwhich will couple automatically and be adapted for quick and easymanipulation to uncouple.

The invention consists of certain novel features and combinationsappearing more fully hereinafter and in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation showing the coupler in uncoupling position. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation showing the link in position. Fig. 4 is a plan View.

A designates a draw-head. This draw-head is provided with a link-openingl and a longitudinal recess 2. A coupling-head 3 is adapted for movementin the link-opening, being provided with a shank 4, which works in thelongitudinal recess and is encircled by a spring 5, which is held inposition by a pin '6. The front face of the coupling-head is providedwith a semicircular link-groove 7, while said coupling-head is alsoprovided with a vertical pin-groove 8, which intersects the link-groove.

B designates a U-shaped integral portion of the draw-head, and it islocated on top thereof.

B' and B" are pillow-blocks. Vertical bolts 1l and 12 pass through theframe and the pillow-blocks and are provided with nuts 13 and 141: forholding said pillow-blocks in position. A frame C has vertical rods 15and 16,1which pass loosely through the respective pillowblocks, portionB, and draw-head A, terminating in caps 17 and 18, which are adapted forfree movement in vertical openings in the draw-head. Coiled springs 19and 20, encircling these vertical rods, exert a tendency to keep theframe C normally pulled downward.

A coupling-pin 2l is secured to the cross-bar of frame C and projectsdownwardly through an opening in the draw-head, and lies in thepin-opening in the coupling-head.

D designates a shaft which is journaled in the pillow-blocks, said shaftbeing provided with a hand-wheel 22 on one end and a crankhandle 23 onthe other. Duplicate cams 24 and 25 are secured to said shaft andadapted to come in engagement with the cross-bar of thevertically-movable frame and lift the latter when the shaft is turned.

The operation is as follows: Assume that a link E is held in one of myimproved couplers and that said coupler is approaching the coupler onanother car. When the free end of the link strikes the coupling-head,the latter is forced back against the action of the spring until thepin-opening in said couplinghead comes in alinement with the pin,whereupon the retracting-springs for the verticallymovable frame causesaid frame to be pulled downward and the pin projected through the link,locking the latter in position.

When it is desired to uncouple, the rotary shaft is turned, bringing thecams thereon into engagement with the vertically -movable frame andlifting the latter, whereupon the link may be withdrawn from thedraw-head. If a link alone is held in the coupler, it is shot out ofposition by the operation j ust described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- In anautomatic car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head, of aspring-pressed coupling-head movable therein, a spring-retractedvertically-movable frame carrying a coupling-pin adapted to be projecteddown in front of the coupling-head, and a transverse rotary shaftcarrying cams adapted for engagement with the vertically-movable frameand means for turning said shaft, whereby the frame may be lifted andthe pin raised to allow the coupling-head to move forward, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

HENRY B. ROGERS.

Vitnesses:

W. M. BARR, GEO. A. BEMIs.

